Suddenly — or at least suddenly to the general public and national media — it appears the University of Memphis' bid to become one of two possible Big 12 expansion members is gathering momentum.

The recent revelation that FedEx would agree to sponsor a Big 12 Conference football title game, in addition to the league's football and basketball telecasts, seemed to invigorate the Memphis candidacy to join the Power Five conference — if the league decides to grow.

'My sense is that the FedEx pledge caused some to view the Memphis candidacy in a different light; perhaps even some within the Big 12,' said Jake Trotter, who covers the conference for ESPN.com. 'Memphis has some definite weaknesses working against it, notably the facilities and weak football tradition. But Memphis also has some definite strengths — big business backing it being chief among them.'

The U of M is among a number of programs residing outside the Power Five's 65-member club — and riches — seeking a promotion. Cincinnati, Houston, UCF, USF, UConn, BYU and Boise State also have been mentioned for what could be two openings in the Big 12. The league is contemplating the additions following a consultant's report earlier this month that two more teams could increase the conference's chances of earning a slot in the four-team College Football Playoffs by as much as 15 percent.

The Big 12's presidents and chancellors will meet later this month in Irving, Texas, to discuss multiple topics, including expansion. If the group agrees to expand, invitations could be extended by the end of the year in the latest timetable offered by Oklahoma president David Boren, an outspoken proponent for adding members. But Boren, according to Trotter, would be reluctant to favor expansion 'if it wasn't a means to forming a viable (conference television) network.'

The Memphis bid, in a letter written to Big 12 composition committee member Gordon Gee, the West Virginia president, included mention of a $500 million investment in academic and athletic infrastructure over the next five years. The amount was touted by U of M president M. David Rudd in December in a blog post as underway.

Do the recent revelations move Memphis to the top of the expansion candidate's list?

Despite the 'wow' factor of the FedEx support and the half-billion investment on campus, there are those who cover the Big 12 and its issues who aren't convinced.

'I don't see much momentum there for Memphis,' said Dennis Dodd, national college football writer for CBS Sports. 'It's not a brand. It's not a market. And if you're not a brand or a market, you better be pretty good in football, which they have little history of, even though they've been good lately.

'Never say never, but there's got to be a reason to go there and I don't know what that would be right now.'

Others, such as longtime Austin (Texas) American-Statesman lead sports columnist Kirk Bohls, aren't convinced the league should expand.

'The talent pool for expansion is shallow and unimpressive,' he wrote in a blog post. 'The Big 12 would be better served to stand pat and maybe just add a football championship game because it would retain the round-robin format, the one true championship format that is fair and conclusive.'

The NCAA would allow the league to conduct a league title game with 10 members, but, again, the percentages to reach the CFP increase to about 75 percent if the title game follows a season in which 12 teams have battled.

'Given the obstacles the Big 12 would face with current tier 3 agreements (media deals negotiated independently by the schools) and distribution, I would say it's more likely the conference doesn't expand,' Trotter said. 'But I would also say this is the closest the league has come to expanding since 2011, considering they're headed toward an actual vote.'

Taking the approach that the league will seek two expansion members, here's a look at six leading candidates:

CINCINNATI: The Bearcats seem to be everyone's lock. Cincinnati's administration has been aggressive in its pursuit and, much like Memphis, has gotten key corporate community support from two locally-based companies: Kroger and Macy's. Boren, who disclosed recently he has received presentations from 25 prospective expansion candidates, wrote in an email to UC president Santa Ono that 'knowing that you are at the helm in Cincinnati makes me ever more inclined to support your cause.'

Not only would the Bearcats provide a much-needed Big 12 neighbor for West Virginia — Morgantown is roughly 300 miles from Cincinnati — UC would bring a recent history of football success. The Bearcats have had seven nine-win seasons since 2007 and played in the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl after the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Since 2000, UC has appeared in 13 bowl games.

Cincinnati's commitment to football has included a recent $86 million renovation of its on-campus stadium and a string of impressive football coaching hires: see Mark Dantonio, Brian Kelly, Butch Jones and Tommy Tuberville. School officials have said they are open to expanding Nippert Stadium from 40,000 to as much as 55,000. As for its traditionally strong basketball, the school has plans for an $87 million upgrade of Fifth Third Arena.

MEMPHIS: The recent news that FedEx will place its financial support behind the U of M's bid is significant. While the U of M can't match the recent on-field football results of the Bearcats, the Tigers have shown they are intent on sustaining their success. Under Justin Fuente, the Tigers went 19-7 the past two seasons and earned the school's first postseason trips since 2008. When Fuente bolted for Virginia Tech after the last season, the U of M lured Arizona State offensive coordinator Mike Norvell, a key Todd Graham assistant and a top recruiter, to lead the program.

In the competition for Power Five membership, football is the key and Memphis appears willing to pour resources into the program. Norvell's contract will pay him $9.54 million over five years, including $1.8 million in 2016 — the highest single-season salary for the position in school history. Also, an indoor football practice facility will be built on the school's Park Avenue Campus.

Basketball, which has struggled the past two seasons (no postseason trips), remains a national brand and the U of M is hoping its recent hire of Tubby Smith will resurrect the program and lure huge crowds back to the FedExForum. A new basketball practice facility had a ceremonial groundbreaking last fall.

Should both the Tigers and Bearcats get Big 12 invitations, Memphis would provide a relatively close (seven-hour drive) playing partner for Cincinnati.

UCF: Ah, the Orlando market. What's not for an expansion committee member to love. Orlando is the 18th-largest television market in the U.S., in addition to being one of the nation's fastest-growing regions. As for the school, it has more than 60,000 students — the nation's second-largest enrollment — and boasts the highest athletic graduation rate among public universities in the U.S.

Although football uncharacteristically nose-dived in 2015 (0-12), former coach George O'Leary built a brand name at UCF before his departure. The Knights, 81-68 in 12 seasons under O'Leary, played in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl and beat No. 6 Baylor of the Big 12, 52-42.

While most tout adding UCF as giving the Big 12 entry into a fertile recruiting area, others aren't certain having a footprint in the state is necessary.

BYU: On paper, BYU is the strongest candidate. The Cougars are a national football brand, a successful independent with a national title (1984), recent wins over Texas (2013 and '14) and Oklahoma (2009) and a national following. BYU averaged 58,532 to 63,725-seat LaVell Edwards Stadium last fall or what would have ranked third in the Big 12 behind Texas and Oklahoma.

There are the perceived problems with BYU's teams not playing on Sundays and no Big 12 campus closer than 850 miles, but if the Cougars are a football-only invitee those perceived negatives could be overcome.

'But BYU has been very aggressive. They have been desperate to get into a conference since this failed independent run.'

USF: South Florida also brings a Top 20 television market to the expansion discussion, but there hasn't been much local interest in the football program recently during its struggles to return to its 2007 heights. Ranked No. 2 in the polls briefly in 2007 after recording wins over No. 17 Auburn and No. 5 West Virginia, the Bulls are recovering under coach Willie Taggart.

Last fall, USF went 8-5 to snap a four-year streak of losing seasons and was able to play in a bowl, but unable to attract a following. An average of only 26,578 attended games at Raymond James Stadium, the Bulls' home and the home of the Tampa Bay Bucs.

But Taggart has the program on an upward track — USF will be favored to win its American Athletic Conference division — and there are those who believe a combination of UCF and USF would be a solid 1-2 expansion punch for the Big 12.

HOUSTON: Houston no longer has a football problem. The Cougars have gone 47-19 the past five seasons. They finished 13-1 last fall under first-year coach Tom Herman and earned the Group of Five's spot in a New Year's Six bowl. Houston beat Florida State in the Peach Bowl.

But the Big 12 already has a strong presence in the Houston market. The league doesn't necessarily need to add the Cougars to establish a recruiting base in the city.

Still, it's difficult to dismiss Houston. On-campus TDECU Stadium, at a cost of $128 million, opened two years ago replacing 70-year-old Robertson Stadium. And Herman, behind dynamic dual-threat quarterback Greg Ward Jr., likely will begin the 2016 season ranked in the top 10 and may have the talent to finish in another New Year's Six slot.